Kulgam girl’s hand-knitting skills make her financially independent

Show your talent to achieve goal:- Munfa Mushtaq

Kulgam, Aug 10: A young girl from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has been keeping the tradition of hand-knitting alive by making sweaters and other gift items.

Munfa Mushtaq, 22, a resident of Frisal area of Kulgam, has completed her Alimiyyah course and is currently pursuing graduation from Government Degree College Frisal.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Munfa said she learned to make gift items through YouTube.

“I was inclined towards art since childhood and started making gift items in different styles and designs,” she said. “I used to knit clothes to give them different shapes and it was making me curious about how blissful it would’ve been for the handicraft artist to make a perfect and complete piece of art.”

Every artwork that I witnessed since my childhood sublimely transformed me into an artist, she said, adding that YouTube helped her learn this art more precisely.

Munfa said she watched a few videos on YouTube following which she started knitting dress sets and making gifts at her home. “I brought small types of equipment required for knitting and started my journey of hand-knitting. I have made hundreds of sweater sets and other gifts which made me financially independent,” she said.

My family, especially my father, has been very supportive, and with their encouragement and faith in me, I have been able to do this, she said.

Munifa said youth must follow their passion and dreams with hard work and determination and “one day, they will definitely achieve their goals”.

“If you want to move forward in your life, don’t hide your talent, rather show and express it; only then can you achieve your goal,” she said—(KNO)

Kashmir becoming mini-Europe; nightlife returns after many decades: LG Manoj Sinha tells Intl Sumit in Delhi

Says Street violence, Pak sponsored terror; terrorism, separatists, closure of schools, colleges for 150 days a year, a history now; Cinemas functioning normally, Youth, elderly go home late night, J&K Admin committed to promotion of MS&ME entrepreneurs, South, northern districts of UT record unprecedented growth of MSUs

Raja Syed Rather

New Delhi, Aug 10 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that in the last four years a lot has changed as Kashmir is becoming a mini-Europe while night life has returned to the Valley after so many decades.

Addressing 9th India International MSME Expo and Summit 2023 in New Delhi, the LG, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that many people question as to what has changed in Kashmir in the last four years. “Let me put it on record that Kashmir is becoming a mini-Europe. The night life has returned to a place where people were seen rushing to their homes just after sun set,” the LG said. He said that street violence, Pakistan sponsored terror, terrorism, separatism, closure of schools for 150 days a year is a history now.

“Cinemas are functioning normally and people are enjoying the night life. Youth could be seen going home late night with guitars and ice-creams in their hands,” the LG said.

The LG commended the MSME Development Forum for its endeavours to bring together policymakers and entrepreneurs for the promotion of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.

“Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises are accelerating India’s economic growth and powering Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,” the LG said, adding that initiatives such as MSME Expo, trade fairs provide an important platform to spread awareness about government schemes, policies and to explore new business opportunities in the sector.

The LG said shared the key interventions of UT administration to facilitate the growth of MSMEs in J&K. “MSMEs are the backbone of industrial growth and equitable development. Our commitment to industries, Small and Medium Enterprises and institutional support as well as infrastructural facilities in J&K is showing results,” he said.

Highlighting the immense potential of the MSME sector in Jammu & Kashmir, the Lt Governor said, as many as 2.81 lakh MSMEs have been registered on the Udyam portal in last 3 years, reflecting the sector’s remarkable growth trajectory, he said.

The LG said that districts like Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kulgam, Bandipora are recording unprecedented growth of micro and small units. “The number of new enterprises in small towns is growing faster and realizing the dreams of new entrepreneurs,” he said

The LG underscored the important role of Small and Medium Enterprises in skilling of youth, promotion of One District One Product (ODOP) and handicraft and handloom sector in the UT of J&K. “Micro & Small enterprises have also become a powerful medium for socio-economic change for women entrepreneurs. Today, more than 74,000 SMEs are being run by women in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said and invited the industry leaders and the potential investors to invest in Jammu & Kashmir. “New industrial development policy offers greater incentives, support for expansion and opportunity to explore emerging possibilities in Tourism, Information Technology Enabled Services, Agriculture & Allied Sectors,” he said. “For the promotion of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, the UT Administration had also taken an important decision and increased the total procurement of Government Departments and Public Sector Undertakings from MSMEs to 25 percent.”

More than 40 exhibitors, supported by JKTPO, are participating in the 9th India International MSME Expo & Summit 2023, showcasing their innovative products, services, and solutions across diverse sectors.

The Lt Governor also visited the stalls installed by MSMEs and other stakeholders displaying local products from UT of J&K. Rajnish Goenka, Chairman, MSME Development Forum; Alexander Rybas, Trade Commissioner of Russian Federation in India; Dr Deepak Vohra, Indian Diplomat; Dr Sharad Kohli, National Board member, MSME Development Forum, foreign and domestic business delegates, investors, entrepreneurs and representatives of MSMEs were present on the occasion—(KNO)

Govt employee suspended for drawing salaries from two departments

Jahangeer Ganaie

Pulwama, Aug 10 (KNO): Authorities have suspended a government employee in Pulwama found drawing salary from two departments.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), an official of the FCSCA Department said that they received a complaint from ACB as well as from other quarters against a Fair Price shop dealer in Sail Awantipora named Javid Ahmad Bhat.

It was alleged that Bhat was working in Srinagar Municipal Corporation since 2002 and was simultaneously working in FCSCA Department Pulwama as Fair Price Shop dealer till 2017 before managing to transfer the license in the name of his daughter Asiya Javid.

He said that Assistant Director FCSCA Pulwama in order to confirm the contents of the complaint took up the issue with the Commissioner SMC Srinagar and Manager JK Bank Branch Balgarden.

“While perusing the service records of the above person, it came to fore that Javid Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Shaban Bhat of Chersoo Awantipora has changed his name to Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh son of Bashir Ahmad Sheikh of Narwara Safa Kadal Eidgah Srinagar. The

a photograph attached with his service book at SMC Office has authenticated that Javid Ahmad Bhat and Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh are one person,” he said .

He said that Bhat has caused loss to state exchequer by withdrawing commission from FCSCA Department and monthly salary from SMC Kashmir.

“He cannot hold two offices at one time and is liable for criminal prosecution,” the official added. He said that the first FPS license Sail Awantipora in the name of Asiya Javid was placed under suspension and her monthly quota was diverted to the nearest sale centre.

He said that a show cause notice was also served to the accused to prove his point but his answer wasn’t satisfactory and the department has ordered for cancellation of the licence.

He added that the department has written to SSP crime as well to recover the amount he has withdrawn illegally.

He said that the licence has been cancelled as it was issued by fraudulent means—(KNO)